Hilina Belete is one of the few entrepreneurs in Ethiopia who have managed to take a family business to the next level, making it a successful and strong contender in the food industry. She is the CEO of Hilina Enriched Foods Processing, at which she worked in various posts before taking it over from her father. It took Hilina more than a decade to be what she is today. When the 32-year old entrepreneur took the CEO post, the company was not well-known as it is now. But after a joint venture agreement with ONYX.S.A.S (Group Nutriset) of France, overseen by Hilina, the company pioneered the production of high quality nutritional and fortified foods for both the institutional and commercial market in Ethiopia and East Africa region. This includes Plumpy‘nut (RUTF), Plumpy’ sup (RUSF), Sheba Peanut Butter and Sheba Peanut Splits. With hundreds of employees and through its network of local suppliers, Hilina attempts to fill the gap in the country’s efforts to raise food security.

When Anna Getaneh made headlines in late 1980s, the modelling industry in Ethiopia was almost non-existent. Born in Sweden as the second child of an Ethiopian career diplomat father and a fashion designer mother, Anna is one of the few Ethiopians who have become successful on the global modelling stage.
She briefly lived in Ethiopia at the age of four, but it was only after she earned a bachelor ‘s degree in business and marketing that Anna realized her potential in modelling. Subsequently, she pursued it as a part time job. Soon, she met with an agent who persuaded her to work as a model in Italy and then London. After that, modelling became her full time job.

Tewodros Shiferaw, 44, is a businessman with a huge appetite. The father of four lived in Japan and China for 12 years working as an exporter and importer, among other activities. In 2008, he came to Ethiopia and established Rosetta General Business, a company engaged in real estate development, hotels, import and export as well as media and communication. Tewodros, who is in the real estate sector, built 142 villas and transfered them to the owners on time despite the huge inflation at the time. However, not all his endeavours have been successful. In fact, two of his hotel projects in Addis Ababa and Hawassa didn’t materialise because the authorities couldn’t give him land on a lease basis. He is now more visible in the broadcasting industry. In fact, Tewodros was a partner at ARTS and a year ago acquired Nahoo TV, a privately owned entertainment TV channel operating in Ethiopia. EBR’s Samson Berhane sat down with Tewodros to learn about his successes and failures

Addisu Habba, president of Debub Global Bank (DGB) is the current president of the Ethiopian Bankers’ Association (EBA). He was re-elected by the professional association of bankers in March 2018 to continue in the post for the next three years. Addisu, a married father of two, has had immense experience in the banking sector. He is a graduate of Economics from Addis Ababa University and holds Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from Italy. In the past, Addisu held several positions at the former Construction and Business Bank, including as a credit clerk and internal auditor, before rising to the post of President. He then became president at the Bank of Abyssinia and served for five years. Three years ago, he joined DGB, one of the later entrants into the banking sector. EBR’s Samson Berhane sat down with him to learn more about the challenges and successes of the industry, as well as the activities of EBA.